Astroturfing For Speed Cameras

New submitter dalosla writes "Chicago's mayor is pushing to change red light cameras near schools and parks into speed cameras. Just about everybody sees it as a cash grab by the city. Today's Chicago Tribune has an article about how the expanded speed camera program would benefit Redflex, the company Greg Goldner, one of the mayor's long time political supporters, lobbies for. This is of merely local interest, but of wider interest in the article would be information about Goldner's astroturfing for Redflex around the country. Redflex is the sole financial supporter for the Traffic Safety Coalition, a 'grassroots' organization to promote more traffic camera usage and fight any attempts to restrict such cameras. Goldner has already successfully facilitated the killing of one anti-camera ballot measure in Texas."

Comments

Re:Think of the children!

[Beardo the Bearded]

Actually, you are more likely to kill a kid when travelling above those posted limits. You're eight times more likely to kill someone at 50km/h vs. 30km/h.

If you want to speed out on the Interstate, go right ahead man, that's your call. Nobody lives there. Going 60 in a school zone because you're running late isn't okay. Kids are unpredictable (and don't learn how to deal with cars until they're between 9 and 11 years old), odds are you're texting and not paying attention, and cars take time to slow down. If someone runs in front of your car, you will hit them because you can't stop in time. That's just simple physics.

And no, you are not a better driver. You're unskilled and unaware.

Re:City overpaying?

[Grishnakh]

Don't forget the current President is also a Chicagoan, and he's obviously corrupt.